Love-Hate Relationship

When I initially got into working out in my twenties, I was a cardio queen. I could jump on a piece of equipment for an hour at a time and not think too much about it. Now an extended period of monotonous cardio sounds like my worst nightmare. I am good for about 20 minutes but will start to grow bored or irritated or both if I go longer then that.

There is so much value and importance in cardio, both in quick bursts and long steady states. Cardio has immense benefits for lunge capacity as well as cardiovascular health, to name only a few things. Everyone should be doing some type of cardio on a regular basis.

Over the years I have been able to get pretty creative with my own cardio as well what I give to my clients to make sure they get theirs in as well.

If cardio is a struggle and you also have a love-hate relationship with it, try one of these to make things a little more fun!

1. 30 total minutes

   1. 10mins on the treadmill

   2. 10mins on the elliptical

   3. 10mins on the bike

2. Set a TABATA :45seconds of work / :15seconds of rest for 20 rounds

   1. Pick 4 body weight exercises (squats/push-ups/lunges/burpees/etc) and repeat 5 cycles.

3. Walk for 3 miles but every 5mins stop and do 10 jumping jacks/10 squats/10 high knees/10 butt kickers .

4. Treadmill or Elliptical for 20mins:

   1. For the first 10mins go up a level/incline or speed each min.

   2. Second 10 mins go down a level/incline or speed each min.

       

5. 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1

   1. Pick 5 exercises (body weight or very light weight) and do 10 of everything, 9 of everything and so on until you get to 1 of everything.

Cardio doesn’t have to be boring or a long, painful experience on one piece of equipment. Find something you actually enjoy and add some creative elements to it.

Movement Motivation of the Week!

Onward and upwards my friends!

Cassandra Gaudet